Ravindra Jadeja (RR) produced an all-round performance to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) register a narrow seven-run win over the Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 Match 10 at Dubai on Wednesday. Chasing a modest target of 141, Rajasthan Royals produced a poor performance with the bat as they managed only 133 off 19.4 overs. Jadeja, who scored a crucial 36 not out in the first innings that helped his side set a 141-run target, shone with the ball as he returned with the figures of 4-0-33-4.

Rajasthan were off to a poor start as they lost Abhishek Nayar early on in the second over. Nayar was run out after attempting to steal a single, but Brendon McCullum was quick enough to grab the ball and hit the wickets while the batsman made an unsuccessful attempt to get back into the crease.

After seeing off couple of overs, Sanju Samson opened up as he clobbered two sixes off Ben Hilfenhaus in the fifth over of the match to provide their side some momentum. The right-handed batsman hit the ball as clean as one can, to get going as he was sluggish earlier in the start.

Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal in the next over pegged back Rajasthan. Rahane played a loose shot off Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mithun Manhas took a simple catch in the leg side to send the dangerous Rahane in the hut.

Shane Watson came out in the middle after Rahane’s dismissal, but he too failed to make a mark. Watson smashed a six off Ravindra Jadeja on the third ball of the seventh over, and tried to get the same result on the next ball, but ended up mistiming it. Hilfenhaus took a fine catch near the cover boundary as Rajasthan lost their third wicket.

There was more trouble in store for the Royals as on the next ball, Jadeja took an easy return catch to dismiss Samson for 16. Rajasthan were left reeling at 44 for four after seven overs.

Rajasthan Royals could never recover from those two twin strikes, as by the 14th over, they had slipped to 80 for seven. Rajasthan’s star all-rounders, James Faulkner, Steven Smith and Stuart Binny – all perished without making significant contributions.

Rajat Bhatia top-scored for the Rajasthan Royals with, but his effort was not enough to win Rajasthan the game. They needed their top-order to perform, but many of them perished on loose strokes, including the skier from skipper Watson.

Earlier in the first innings, Rajasthan Royals (RR) produced an inspired bowling performance to limit the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to 140 for six. Dwayne Smith scored a quickfire 50 off 28 balls, and his innings was the only bright spot for Chennai Super Kings as the other batsmen failed to get going against the disciplined Rajasthan bowling attack.

The Royals continued with their strategy of taking the pace off the ball and strangling the opposition batsmen, which paid off handsomely. The Super Kings, despite being provided an excellent start, failed to put up a fight and suffered a batting collapse in the middle overs, which hampered their chances of putting a strong total.